Angelina Jolie Breaks Down at TIFF: A Heartfelt Tribute to Late Mother’s Cancer Battle

I’m Quinn Parker, and I’m here to spill the tea on the latest celebrity scoop – and I’ve got a doozy for you! Angelina Jolie recently got emotional while discussing her late mother’s cancer battle at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The actress, 50, was promoting her new movie “Couture” when an audience member asked her and her co-stars about their message of hope for those struggling with grief after losing a loved one to cancer.

Jolie’s eyes welled up with tears as she began to share a poignant memory of her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2007 at the age of 56. “I’m very sorry for your loss,” Jolie said, her voice trembling. “I think I will say that one thing I remember my mother saying when she had cancer, she said to me once, we had had a dinner and people were asking her how she was feeling and she said, ‘All anybody ever asks me about is cancer.'” Jolie’s mother had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999 and later with breast cancer before her death.

The actress emphasized the importance of seeing a person beyond their illness, saying, “So I would say, if you know someone who is going through something, ask them about everything else in their life as well, you know? They’re a whole person and they’re still living.” This heartfelt moment was captured in a TikTok video from the event, showcasing Jolie’s vulnerability and compassion.

Bertrand’s cancer battle had a profound impact on Jolie’s life. Six years after her mother’s death, Jolie underwent a double mastectomy after learning she had inherited a “faulty gene,” BRCA1, which put her at a higher risk of cancer. In a 2013 op-ed for the New York Times, Jolie explained her decision, saying, “I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could.”

Jolie has been open about the emotional toll of losing her mother. In a 2020 essay for the New York Times, she compared her mother’s death to someone “rip[ping] away a protective blanket.” “When I look back to that time, I can see how much her death changed me,” she wrote. “It was not sudden, but so much shifted inside.”

During the Q&A, writer and director Alice Winocour noted that Jolie had a personal connection to the film “Couture” due to her family’s history with breast cancer. “She also had a connection in her flesh to this story since she underwent a double mastectomy to escape her family fate,” Winocour added.

In “Couture,” Jolie plays an American film director named Maxine Walker who receives a serious medical diagnosis during Fashion Week in Paris. The film’s storyline resonated with Jolie, who has been an advocate for women’s health and cancer awareness.

As I wrap up this article, I’m left with a sense of admiration for Angelina Jolie’s strength and vulnerability. Her willingness to share her personal struggles with cancer and grief has inspired countless fans around the world. And that’s a wrap – for now!

Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine, Toronto International Film Festival
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed